A Path to a Healthier and Low Carbon Society: Smart Grid Technology Articles: Eco20/20

A Path to a Healthier and Low Carbon Society

As the green movement grows in popularity, the demand for smarter energy alternatives rises. Every aspect has been affected. The utility companies have responded in several ways: the use of renewable resources and smart grids. These two developments by the power companies are making society healthier and low carbon.

The fewer emissions from companies mean a healthier environment and less carbon. Lower costs and better efficiency means healthier and happier consumers. Renewable resources with smart innovations achieve a complete balance in society. Technology advances have made it possible to have a healthier and low carbon society.

Smart grids have started replacing the traditional grid that has been used for years. Nicola Tesla, the father of modern electricity, developed the grid in 1896. The conventional grid is outdated and over run. This grid relies heavily on huge polluting power plants that emit tons of carbon in the air to produce the energy needed on a daily basis. The new smart grids use digital technology that reduces the carbon emissions of the old grids. Smart meters are one way the new grids work. These meters record actual usage in intervals of 1 hour or less and transmit it to the company. This means a more efficient way of producing energy. Fewer fossil fuels are needed to produce energy that is wasted thus reducing the amount of pollutants in the environment leading to a healthier society. As new innovations in technology are developed the smart grids will improve.

Another way the smart grids are making society healthier and low carbon is the resources used to produce energy. In the conventional way of the past, utility companies used oil and coal to make energy to power our homes. The new smart system is seeking alternative sources like sunlight, wind, and water. This saves money and also makes a healthier way to get the energy. These sources are abundantly available; they will not eventually be depleted like the fossil fuels will. Also converting these natural energy sources into power leaves no harsh carbon emissions. With inventions like robotics the renewable resources have increased as the go to source for energy. The better the technology the healthier the planet will become because people will use fewer fossil fuels thus reducing carbon footprints left on the environment.

Consumers are healthier because of the smart grids. Stress is a major factor in a person's health. Because the smart grids allow consumers to only pay for the actual use of energy people are less stressed. Costs for energy are lower because of the use of renewable resources and the cost of producing power from these sources. Saving money has proven to lower stress thus making society healthier. Because renewable resources produce little to no carbon by products the low carbon society is possible. As new innovations develop to improve the smart grid a healthier and low carbon society will become the new standard. Smart grids are replacing the traditional grids and are creating a path to a healthier and low carbon society.